An Army veteran and Hoytsville resident has entered the race for Summit County Council.
Republican Tory Welch became the first person to challenge longtime incumbent Roger Armstrong, a Democrat, when he filed his declaration of candidacy on Friday. He said he’s running because he feels a responsibility to help guide Summit County in a positive direction.
“Summit County residents are fortunate to live in a great place with a great community and I’ve spent time in enough places to know that great places don’t just happen by accident,” Welch said in a statement. “Great places are built and maintained through the intentional and thoughtful actions of insightful leaders who are informed by the values and concerns of the citizens.”
Although he’s a fresh face in local politics, Welch was voted onto the executive board of the Summit County Republican Party in March 2023. He is the county GOP’s representative for the State Central Committee, which is the governing body of Utah’s Republican Party.
Welch was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to Morgan County in 2000. He graduated from high school at the age of 17 in 2003 and enlisted in the Army.
The Republican candidate was employed as a heavy equipment operator at Fort Stewart in Georgia for five years. Welch was twice deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he helped construct and repair roads, airfields, bridges, security perimeters and more.
Welch left the Army in 2008 to raise a family.
He returned to Utah with his high school sweetheart and began working for Rocky Mountain Power. Welch started an apprenticeship to become a journey lineman, the person responsible for building and maintaining electrical power systems. The position required him to work across the state and Summit County, including an almost five-year stint working out of the Park City office.
In 2017, Welch left Rocky Mountain Power to start his own utilities company specializing in underground excavation and power line installation. The company is mostly based in Summit and Wasatch counties, which Welch has said gives him special insight into issues such as regulation, land use and housing that are affecting residents across the Wasatch Back.
Welch said “a profound gratitude” is at the center of his political and social ethics, which is also influenced by his faith and interest in world history. His military experience also highlighted the values of freedom and comfort in America, and the need to protect it.
The Republican believes the nation was founded and built upon principles that have created a great era of liberty. However, more work is needed to “fully realize those values.”
Welch has lived in Hoytsville since 2013 with his wife and four children ages 9 to 16. The family enjoys spending time outdoors and competing in youth sporting events.
“Life in the mountains, sweat in foreign deserts, service to Summit County, and the journey of entrepreneurship in the Wasatch Back have all given me special insights into the interests, concerns and values of Summit County’s greatest asset — the people — and I look forward to representing them,” Welch said.
The candidate filing window closed on Monday. Welch was the only Republican to file for Seat A, which means he will earn the GOP nomination without having to go through the convention.
LGBTQ+ advocate Cami Richardson, a Democrat, also filed for the position. She will challenge Armstrong at the Summit County Democratic Party convention.
A caucus night will be held in March to determine the delegates who are tasked with choosing which person receives the party nomination. A primary election will be held in June if no candidate receives at least 60% of the delegate vote.
The top vote-getter will face Welch for the seat in the November election.
The 2024 election will also have two other County Council races on the ballot.
Four people are vying for Seat C as Chair Malena Stevens is not running for reelection. The Democratic candidates are Thomas Cooke and Megan McKenna. The Republican candidates are Byron Ames and Ari Ioannides.
Incumbent Tonja Hanson is challenged by Betsy Wallace for Seat B. They are both Democrats.